574_dataset of Oreocharis_20240903

A peltate-leaved new species,<i> Oreocharis scutifolia </i>Z. Xie &amp; H. H. Kong, endemic to the Dry and Hot Valley of the Jinsha River Basin, Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated here. It is similar to <i>O. cordatula</i> (Craib) Pellegr. and <i>O. aurantiaca</i> Baill. in floral characters, but differs in its peltate leaf blades, which are unique in the genus (and only occur in one population of <i>O. henryana </i>Oliv., but its flowers are smaller, campanulate, and deep purple). Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on transcriptome data confirmed its relationship with other <i>Oreocharis</i> species, while it forms a sister group with <i>O. henryana</i>, <i>O. cordatula</i>, <i>O. minor</i> Pellegr. and <i>O. aurantiaca</i> Baill. (LPP = 1). The new species <i>O. scutifolia</i> is assessed as "Critically Endangered" following the IUCN categories and criteria, due to its small and single population, thus making it face serious threats from human disturbance, invasive plants, shrinking habitat and decreasing habitat quality.